The Commercial Beef Cattle Niche
Raising Beef Cattle
Raising Beef Cattle, The Commercial Beef Cattle Niche Information and
Resources.
Developing A Commercial Cattle Herd
The criteria for selection, or selling points, of good cows for your commercial cattle herd
depend on size, quality, age, condition, stage of pregnancy, and market price. You should select breed and cow size
to match your feed resources and topography. Local ranchers or Extension personnel can give you an idea
of what breeds are best suited to your area.
Crossbreeding (mating animals from two or more breeds) can be an advantage in a commercial
cow herd. Capitalizing on the merits of several breeds, plus the extra vigor from crossbred calves, may give you a
competitive edge in the market. Remember that advances in genetic merit probably will not be realized for several
years.
Purchasing cattle
There are many sources of good cattle, both registered and commercial. Usually it's best to purchase from a
successful and reputable breeder. They usually sell only sound cattle as breeding animals and they are helpful in
giving advice to less experienced producers.
If you are inexperienced, it might be best to buy good, young, bred cows that have calved at
least once. This reduces problems associated with calving heifers. If you purchase open heifers, you should breed
them to a bull that has the genetics for easy calving.
Managing a cow-calf herd
It is ideal to have a controlled breeding season, rather than allowing the bull to run with the cows
continuously. A 45- to 60-day breeding season is recommended. The resulting shortened calving season increases the
possibility of having a uniform set of calves to sell at market time. Cattle of similar breeding and size usually
bring more money. Another advantage is that you can concentrate your work with cows during calving into a short
span, instead of having it strung out for months.
Cattle have a 283-day gestation period. Select breeding dates so that cows will calve at the
time of year you desire. Considerations in determining calving season include weather conditions and the ability to
match feed resources with the cows' requirements. In moast areas late fall or winter calving usually is not
desirable because rain causes wet, muddy lots and pastures. The adverse weather may increase the incidence of calf
scours and pneumonia. Late summer calving is a common practice because of the ideal weather. However, you must feed
a high quality ration to nursing cows and calves during winter, when only harvested feeds are available. This
greatly increases feed costs. Calving in the spring allows the cows to utilize rapidly growing range and pasture,
thus eliminating harvesting costs. However, spring calves may be too young to use all of the milk the cow provides
as a result of the excellent nutrition she is receiving. Your Extension agent can discuss the pros and cons of
calving seasons with you.
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